JPS6412390B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a microcomputer-controlled electronic map device.

Conventional maps were mainly printed on large sheets of paper, or similarly printed and bound into books such as atlases. With conventional maps, firstly, it takes time to index from maps, etc., secondly, if you want to change the scale and view it, you need several separate maps, and thirdly, it takes time and effort to measure the distance of roads, etc. ,Fourth, because it is paper, it takes up a lot of space.Fifth, it is difficult to obtain maps with detailed and up-to-date information.

The present invention eliminates such drawbacks, and its purpose is to provide a map with the function of storing information, the function of processing information, the function of obtaining information, the function of displaying information, and the function of recording information on paper. The aim is to make the map more useful by replacing them.

The present invention will be described in detail below based on Examples.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic map device according to the present invention, in which 1 is a flat keyboard, 2 is a microprocessor, and 3 is a read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) and a random access memory (hereinafter referred to as RAM). 4 is a system bus, 5 is a power supply, 6 is a system bus connector, 7 is a flat display unit, 8 is a printer unit, 9 is a ROM,
A memory unit includes RAM and the like, and 10 is a modem unit. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electronic map device according to the present invention, and 11 is the electronic map main body. The flat keyboard No. 1 is used as an input device for controlling the electronic map device, such as inputting place names and setting scales. The microprocessor 2 performs calculations, control, etc. of the electronic map device. ROM of 3
The control program for the electronic map device is stored in the RAM, and map data such as place names is temporarily stored in the RAM. The system bus 4 includes the system bus connector, keyboard, microprocessor,
Connects ROM and RAM to exchange information. 5
The power supply supplies power to each unit in the same way as the system bus. System bus connector 6 is used for mechanical and electrical connection between each unit and the main body housing, and exchanges information. The system bus connector is common to each unit and can be inserted and operated with any unit. The main body is composed of 1 to 6 in FIG. 1, and as shown in 11 in FIG. 2, a keyboard is provided on the top surface, and a total of two system bus connectors are provided on the top and bottom surfaces.

The flat display unit 7 is used for displaying maps and character data. Printer unit 8 is used when a hard copy of what is displayed at 7 is required. The memory unit 9 is used to store information regarding the map. Ten modem units are used to retrieve map information from other devices such as large computers through the telephone line.

It is essential for electronic map devices to be portable and pocketable. For this reason, firstly, the keyboard must be a flat type using a conductive sheet, etc., and secondly, in order to reduce power consumption, integrated circuits such as microprocessors, RAM, and ROM must be
Thirdly, it seems necessary to use a battery or preferably a DC-DC converter as the power source. Fourth, for flat displays, switching elements are installed on integrated circuit boards to increase display capacity and reduce thickness, and glass panels are stacked on top of each other, and liquid crystal displays are injected with liquid crystal, and vertical and horizontal electrodes are placed on two glass panels, respectively. Possible examples include a matrix display with a liquid crystal sandwiched in between, or a flat cathode ray tube. Fifth, the memory unit usually consisted of ROM.
A ROM unit is used, but if you want to store information imported from the outside, it needs to be non-flammable, so it has a battery backup.
It is preferable to use a RAM unit composed of RAM or bubble memory. Sixth, printers have a large display capacity and there are few small ones, but it is possible to use software to print out characters. If the above points are kept in mind, it is easy to make the present invention portable and pocketable.

Next, we will give an example of use in which each unit is combined with the main body casing, and show how to improve the conventional drawbacks.

Usage example 1: Use the main unit, flat display unit, and RAM unit as the memory unit. If you enter a place name from the main keyboard, a map with other names will be displayed. Depending on the display capacity of the display, the map may be one or more of a topographic map, a road map, a sightseeing spot, a railway map, etc. Also, if you enter two or more place names, a map and transportation methods (such as which train to take and how many minutes it will take to take which route to take) will be displayed. It is also possible to change the scale by inputting from the keyboard. When measuring the distance of a road, do you enter place names?
It is also possible to measure by displaying the cursor on the display.
Move the cursor and measure the elevation of any point. These operations are carried out by the ROM program in the main body called up by commands entered on the keyboard, and by the arithmetic functions of the microprocessor. ROM
The unit has a limited capacity and must be replaced depending on the purpose of use. World map for educational purposes
ROM, Japanese map ROM, for sightseeing, 〇〇prefecture
ROM et al. Note that depending on the area stored in the ROM,
The maximum scale etc. is determined.

Usage example 2: Using the main unit, flat display unit, and modem unit. The modem unit is connected via telephone line to a large central computer (which contains the latest information on roads, terrain, etc.). Map information can be obtained conversationally by inputting it from the keyboard. The difference from Example 1 is that the information is new and can be obtained in rich detail.

Usage example 3: Use a RAM unit as the main unit, modem unit, and memory unit. Unlike the conversation format in usage example 2, you can enter the range of information (for example, XX prefecture) on the keyboard, and the RAM
Map information is input into the unit from a large central computer. Battery backup or bubble memory is convenient for the RAM unit. After completing the input, remove the modem unit and use example 1.
Use it cordlessly by attaching a flat display unit like this.

As mentioned above, various usage examples are possible, and in addition, hard copies can be made by replacing the flat type display unit of the usage example described above with a printer unit.

As described above, in the present invention, the main unit and the display, printer, memory, and modem units are each configured separately, and each unit is configured to be convertible into any combination by providing a common system bus connector. As a result, the storage capacity of the memory unit can be kept to the minimum necessary, making it possible to downsize the device and realize an electronic map device with excellent portability.

In addition, using a modem unit, you can obtain new information, details, and information from the outside by calling at any time (anywhere you have a car phone), and it is possible to provide an electronic map device that always has the latest information. It has the following effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic map device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electronic map device according to the present invention. 1... Flat keyboard, 2... Microprocessor, 3... Memory, 4... System bus, 5... Power supply, 6... System bus connector,
7...Flat type display unit, 8...
Printer unit, 9...Memory unit, 1
0...Modem unit, 11...Main body.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A flat keyboard, a microprocessor that performs desired performance or control in response to input from the flat keyboard, a read-only memory that stores a control program that controls the operation of the microprocessor, and a read-only memory that stores desired data. a main body having a memory and a power supply consisting of a random access memory for temporary storage;
A memory unit that stores map information, a flat display unit that displays map information, a printer unit that prints map information on paper, and a modem that imports map information from outside. The main body and each unit are each provided with a common system bus connector so that any one of the units can be detachably connected to the main body. Electronic map device.